Via Direct Injection using a Compact Mass Spectrometer with extended mass range (CMSL)
The CMSL is a high performance, easy to use, single quadrupole mass spectrometer with an extended mass range analysis capability to m/z 2000 — ideal for large molecule applications such as the analysis of proteins. Its small footprint makes it the instrument of choice for space-restricted laboratories and is more affordable than comparable MS systems. The CMSL brings the analytical benefits of mass spectrometry to more scientists than ever before.
Register to download the application note and see how direct injection with the expression CMSL is a fast, powerful, yet simple tool to determine, confirm or characterize the mass of a relatively pure protein analyte.
Using the expression CMSL compact mass spectrometer
The CMSL is a high performance, easy to use, single quadrupole mass spectrometer with an extended mass range analysis capability to m/z 2000 — well-suited for large molecule applications such as the analysis of proteins. Its small footprint makes it the instrument of choice for space-restricted laboratories and it is more affordable than comparable MS systems. The CMSL brings the analytical benefits of mass spectrometry to more scientists than ever before.
Register to download the application note and see how LC/MS analysis using the expression CMSL and a denaturing solvent phase is a powerful tool in the analysis of protein mixtures and antibodies.
Q: WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR LAB’S RESEARCH?
A: During conventional lipodomics research, information is lost during the extraction when lipids get dissociated from the lipoprotein particles. We are developing methods to gather information about lipoproteins while looking at the lipid through online liquid/liquid extraction using the expression CMS as the detector.
Q: WHAT PREVIOUS WORKFLOW CHALLENGES DID YOU EXPERIENCE?
A: The previous method of fraction collection took a lot of time and a lot of work.
Q: WHY DID YOU INCORPORATE THE EXPRESSION CMS INTO YOUR LABORATORY?
A: The CMS is a rugged instrument and allows us to manipulate liquid/liquid extractions and modify parameters such as salt buffers. It is a very simple to use system. Other mass spectrometers are complicated, so if something goes wrong in the method development process; it takes a lot of effort to get the system back up and running. The CMS is easy to clean and can be back running in a short amount of time.
Q: WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO PURCHASE THE EXPRESSION CMS?
A: I recommend the CMS to anyone interested in method development especially those that are not easily amenable to mass spectrometry, because it is so easy to run and maintain.
Q: What is the focus of your lab’s research?
A: Medicinal chemistry research in my lab is a collaborative exercise where we engage other scientists with complementary interests. Currently, we are engaged in the discovery of protein kinase inhibitors for anti-infective and anti-inflammatory applications and in the discovery of new agents useful for the potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. We are working with others at MSU as well as scientists in other universities and research institutes.
Q: Why did you incorporate the expression CMS into your laboratory?
A: As a medicinal chemist working in the industry, I wanted to have access to the same technology for my group’s research at MSU. However, working in the industry I had experts to run samples. In my lab at MSU, it is essential to have the same technology available in an easy to use the instrument. Not only do the expression CMS specifications meet our needs perfectly, but also it runs without a hitch and it is easily serviceable by a non-expert.
Q: Who would you recommend to purchase the expression CMS?
A: I would recommend the expression CMS to any non-expert chemist or laboratory who needs access to this level of technology. The Advion service and support groups make it accessible.
The expression compact mass spectrometer (CMS) is a high performance, easy-to-use single quadrupole mass spectrometer with a small footprint to fit in space restricted labs. Priced substantially lower than other available systems, the CMS brings the analytical benefits of FIA/CMS and LC/CMS within the reach of more scientists than ever before.
Q: What is the focus of your lab’s research?
A: The development of macromolecular materials that combine synthetic polymerization techniques with the capacity of peptides and other biologically relevant molecules to participate in supramolecular interactions will lead to a variety of new responsive materials. When applied in vivo, a vital characteristic of these new materials will be their biodegradability, allowing the carrier to break down into benign metabolites. My lab focuses on the synthesis of biodegradable polymeric and self-assembling structures and their application in a broad variety of fields, including regenerative medicine, cancer therapeutics, drug delivery, and signaling gas delivery.
Q: What was your previous work flow or challenges?
A: We make and purify a lot of peptides, some of which are unstable under preparative HPLC purification conditions. By using rapid MS analysis to confirm the identity of an HPLC peak, we can quickly workup the product-containing fractions before they decompose. This was nearly impossible before we moved to the Advion system. Our peptides routinely have molecular weights in excess of 2000 g/mol, which we can identify by looking at multiply charged species. We use the expression® CMS for characterizing peptides several times during a difficult synthesis to optimize our synthesis and purification methods. My group has also found that the CMS system is extremely helpful in small molecule synthesis, where we use it to quickly verify that a product has formed in a reaction before proceeding to workup and isolation steps.
Q: Why did you incorporate the expression® CMS into your laboratory?
A: We incorporated the CMS system in our lab to speed up workflow and to enable us to synthesize peptides and peptide conjugates that are deliberately unstable. It has sped up small molecules and peptide synthesis as well as allowed us to do qualitative decomposition studies on our compounds.
Q: Who would you recommend to purchase the expression® CMS?
A: I think that nearly any lab that does significant small molecule and/or peptide synthesis would benefit from this instrument. There is no substitute for having a mass spectrometer a few steps away from your bench. Analyses require very little sample and are often as quick as a few minutes, making the CMS system a more efficient analytical technique than 1H NMR for rapid product confirmation.
